Tips

The Complete Guide to Scout’s tips and advice for FPL Gameweek 6

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Scout Guide to Gameweek 6. It’s the first Friday deadline of the season – you have until 18:30 BST to ready the troops!

Who to captain?

This week Jan Sienkiewicz, our sage of the armband, recommends Sadio Mané (£11.9m), Mohamed Salah (£12.3m) and Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) in his Captain Sensible article. Risk-taking often factors into our decision-making process, and in terms of popularity Salah is the safest pick:

“Backed by over 66% of our voters combined, Salah and Kane seem to be the safe choices for Gameweek 6, the heavily-backed Egyptian the safest of the two.”

– Jan

In the latest edition of The Review, BigManBakar also tips Salah ahead of an enticing encounter against Sheffield United:

He’s on penalties playing for a team that has the best xG this season. According to the bookies, Salah has the best odds of scoring a goal and Liverpool are the most likely team this Gameweek to score 2.5+ goals. No player in the league has recorded more shots in the box this season.

– BigManBakar

Meanwhile David, who returned to the Captain Video after successfully transferring out a wisdom tooth last week, brought more good news for those considering a Liverpool player. Pointing out the impact the now-departed Dean Henderson (£5.4m) had on the Blades’ defence, he noted:

Sheffield United last season, for all the clean sheets they kept, I think a lot of people … would have assumed their xGC (expected goals conceded) was often quite good, but actually it really wasn’t. They would give up lots of Big Chances, but Dean Henderson had the second-best xG Prevented in the whole division last year, i.e. he was making incredible saves to keep Sheffield United in games.

– David

And if you prefer a differential option – a tactic last week’s Meet the Manager guest Graeme Sumner advocates – Neale was on hand with a tasty stat in his Big Numbers piece.

79.4 minutes per expected goal involvement (xGI) recorded by Sadio Mane, the best figure in the division from any player who has started at least one Premier League match this season.

– Neale

At under 10 per cent ownership, the Senegalese could be the better option for those willing to move away from Salah.

High opportunity cost

With so many players performing well this year it’s impossible to have them all. One strategy is to switch between the premium assets for their best fixtures, to give yourself the best captain candidates. 

But, as Greyhead has found out this season, you will have to accept the high opportunity cost.

The Community scribe sold Jamie Vardy (£10.0m) before his unexpected Gameweek 3 hat-trick away to Manchester City, he then ditched a potentially-injured Son Heung-min (£9.4m) ahead of his brace in Gameweek 4, and even his Gameweek 5 transfer-out Che Adams (£5.8m) returned 11 points after leaving his team.

The topic was raised on this week’s Scoutcast, with all three of Joe, Az, and Lee holding differing opinions on how to deal with the season. Az in particular was against switching out expensive players:

I think you can build a team with these premiums and you don’t need to worry about switching them out every week to try and catch different ones, because we’ve seen how much that can hurt people.

– Az

Instead, Az prefers to identify blocks of fixtures rather than transferring out a player because he blanked. 

Pro Pundit Simon March offered a different perspective on opportunity cost when discussing loss aversion, a cognitive bias that describes our tendency to fear losses more than we value gains.

Arguably the number one source of anxiety among Fantasy managers comes from transferring a player out who you suspect might suddenly start scoring, something that always seems to happen.

– Simon

Citing Timo Werner’s (£9.3m) haul against Southampton’s high-line defence, Simon explained that “one of the key skill elements of FPL is identifying the contextual factors that influence whether a player will score or not.

Essentially, judge the decision not the outcome. Simon concluded:

Most importantly, although it might feel like it, a player did not start scoring because you transferred them out. That kind of ‘magical thinking’ can quickly sabotage a Fantasy manager’s season as it removes logic and objectivity and puts events firmly into the hands of chance.

– Simon

And fellow Pro Pundit Lateriser doesn’t expect the rollercoaster of a season to stop any time soon.

This season, variance is a lot higher than usual and I expect that trend to continue. Be prepared for it and remember that this is only a game, one which involves a fair amount of luck and unpredictability as well.

– Lateriser

Value Villains 

Several contributors have noted the value on offer in Aston Villa’s ranks, who have surprised us all with their excellent start.

Now is a good time to invest in [Villa] from an attacking standpoint. When it comes to their attackers, I get the feeling that you will get what you pay for. Jack Grealish (£7.2m), Ross Barkley (£6.0m) and Ollie Watkins (£6.0m) are all correctly priced in my opinion and could be good stick-and-forget options for a while.

– Lateriser

In his Scout Notes from Gameweek 5, David Wardale, the author of Wasting Your Wildcard, revealed that Grealish was the most advanced Aston Villa player against Leicester City. While Az also recommends the Villa talisman:

Looking at the numbers, Grealish seems the stand-out option. Turning attention to Mark’s “Top Penalty Box Dweller” table in the Premium Members Area also shows that no player in the league can better the number of touches that Grealish has had in the opposition box (38) over the last four Gameweeks.

– Az

Referring once more to Neale’s stat-dive article, we find that Dean Smith’s men could be set for more immediate returns:

2.8 direct attacks per game recorded by Aston Villa this season, the highest number in the Premier League. Leeds United, Villa’s opponents on Friday, have had the most direct attacks against per game so far this term (4.0). A direct attack is one that starts just inside a team’s own half, has at least 50% of movement towards the opposition goal and ends with a shot or touch in the opponent’s box. Aston Villa ranked 16th for this statistic last season (1.4).

– Neale

A change in attacking style this season that looks set to reap rewards again in Gameweek 5.

Are Premium Defenders Worth the Money?

– the black circles represent the defenders priced £5.5m and over

Lateriser is considering selling Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m), Magnus Carlsen has sold Trent Alexander-Arnold, and BigManBakar’s research finds that “Andrew Robertson (£7.1m) is beating Trent in almost every single underlying stat that matters – not only this season but post restart”.

The graphic above is taken from FPL Ted’s video analysing premium defenders. Alexander-Arnold stands out with nine shots and nine chances created, which would suggest attacking returns are imminent. But perhaps the numbers aren’t as impressive as they first appear:

Alexander-Arnold seems to have monopolised direct free-kicks, which may explain why all nine of goal attempts have been small chances.

– FPL Ted

Neale, too, paints a less-than-ideal picture of the Liverpool full-back:

50 minutes per chance created by Trent Alexander-Arnold this season, still a very reasonable figure but down on last season’s average of 37. His average number of crosses per match has dropped from 10.1 to 7.4, in no small part thanks to his rate of corner-kicks dipping (4.3 to 2.6); Robertson, indeed, has delivered more of those than the Liverpool right-back in 2020/21.

– Neale

Will he be making way in your team this week?

Finally, before confirming your starting line-up, don’t forget to check the latest Team News and Predicted Line-ups. In case you missed it, James Rodriguez (£8.0m) may make a miraculous recovery for Sunday’s game!

Community latest

Earlier today, the Best of the Community feature included a tactical analysis from Kroos Kontrol, a ‘keeper evaluation from El Estadístico, and Jaydutt’s list of potential transfer traps ahead of the weekend’s fixtures.

And finally, for those interested in the Head-to-Head Leagues, the main page can be linked to here. The fixtures for Gameweek 6 can be found below:

Use the drop-down menus to show your league and division. To find out which league and division you are in, follow the instructions on the main Head-to-Head page.

Once the Gameweek starts, if you click on your opponent’s name you will be linked to their team on the FPL website.

May your arrows be green!


TopMarx Fan of Fantasy Football and Monty Python. "Archimedes out to Socrates, Socrates back to Archimedes, Archimedes out to Heraclitus, he beats Hegel. Heraclitus a little flick, here he comes on the far post, Socrates is there, Socrates heads it in! Socrates has scored! The Greeks are going mad, the Greeks are going mad! Socrates scores, got a beautiful cross from Archimedes. The Germans are disputing it. Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination, and Marx is claiming it was offside. Follow them on Twitter

1,099 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ChelseaBridgeBlue
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    On a Wildcard, but have brought in Rodriguez and am now unconvinced. Thinking of Grealish -> Barkley and Rodriguez -> Rashford.

    Martinez 4.0
    Chilwell Kilman Targett KWP Struijk
    Salah Son Grealish Rodriguez 4.5
    Werner Kane DCL

    Would appreciate any thoughts!

    TIA

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Keep Hames imo

    2. Toked
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I prefer Grealish and Rod, team looks good.

  2. Releasebreaks
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    If money not a problem, who would you buy for Greenwood ?

    A- Bruno F.
    B - Rashford

    1. Traction Engine Foot
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. jaywills
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bruno

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

    4. Riverside Red
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B Rashford On Fire

    5. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A all day.

  3. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Start 1 ?

    A) Brewster - Pool away

    B) Justin - Arsenal away

    Cheers.

    1. Traction Engine Foot
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

  4. jaywills
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Hello all
    Who to start?
    A) Mitchell (C.Palace Fulham away)
    B) Justin (Leicester- Arsenal Away)

    Thanks and good luck!

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A but...

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        It may not matter, since PvA is back.

        1. jaywills
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          So should I start Justin?

  5. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Podence > Barkley for free or bank FT?

    1. jaywills
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      You have grealish already?

      1. Tmel
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Nope

    2. Too Mane Men
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bank it for sure. Podence has a great next two. Try and move another midfielder out for Barkley/Grealish?

  6. Traction Engine Foot
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bench one please

    A Ayling
    B Mitchell
    C Bissouma

    1. jaywills
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      C

    2. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A.

    3. sozopol
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bissouma best chance for attacking returns, plus a point for CS. CSs are so hard to predict. So bench A or B IMO.

  7. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Come on deadline already

  8. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I have done my head in re captaincy...Salah, Kane, Salah, Kane, Salah, Kane...aarrgghhh

    1. jaywills
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Both will do well.
      Salah as a midfielder has higher ceiling

    2. The Dead Parrots
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Salah (Home)

    3. sozopol
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Settle on one... then do the opposite.

      1. sozopol
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        p.s. I have both and am going with Kane

        1. bso
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          All the best everyone. Kane may be more explosive Sozopol. Will probably go with him.

    4. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      The lazy FPL manager will use home vs away as the tiebreaker

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Using lazy heuristics is a great way to reduce pointless overthinking.

      2. bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        That does not seem to effect Kane. Will likely go with him.

  9. The Dead Parrots
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    a) Doherty 4 Reguilón
    b) KDB/Che Adams 4 Lookman/Kane (-4)

  10. KingZZ
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Really torn on this?

    A) Jimenez - - > Kane

    B) Bank the FT

    1. Riverside Red
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      DO IT NOW

    2. Riverside Red
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

    3. The Dead Parrots
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

    4. Henning
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

  11. sozopol
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Help! Start one:

    A. Ayling
    B. Mitchell
    C. Justin

    will return the advice favor!

    1. Traction Engine Foot
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Definitely Justin, can't decide between the other two myself but probably Mitchell.

      1. Traction Engine Foot
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Definitely bench Justin I mean

        1. sozopol
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          aha, ok

      2. sozopol
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Justin, really? I was kinda between the other two. You think his attacking chances are best among the three?

    2. The Dead Parrots
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Mitchell then Ayling then Justin

      Mine is;
      a) Doherty 4 Reguilón
      b) KDB/Che Adams 4 Lookman/Kane (-4)

      1. sozopol
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Tough one. A, just, because reg is surely better than Doh going forward starting this week, and plus I hate hits. However, Kane's form is so good right now...

  12. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Ward a decent option to get into the Crystal Palace defence? On WC and thinking of ditching Mitchell since Van Aanholt is back.

  13. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Why would Justin be benched guys?

    1. DIMITRIS
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      If Pereira is fit, then he and Castagne will occupy full back positions

      1. Klaren
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Pereira is not fit and considering match fitness issue, won’t play for at least another month.

        1. DIMITRIS
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Then Justin is as nailed as it gets. Fuchs is too old to compete aginst Justin

    2. Klaren
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I think they just think that because Fuchs started last night but I highly doubt it, I think Justin just got rested as he was one of the few who has an alternative in his position. Also at this age, I don’t think Fuchs can play back to back games within 3 days.

  14. Too Mane Men
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Not mad keen on ditching Havertz who could easily do very wellcover the next 4 GWs but something has to give to get Grealish in.

    Havertz + James > Grealish + Lamptey for -4 ?

    Martinez
    Digne Lamptey Saiss
    Salah (C) Son Grealish Podence KDB
    DCL Jimenez

    Steer, Mitchell, Brewster, Justin

    1. DIMITRIS
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      That could pay off

  15. Lord of Ings
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    The better option out of Bamford and che adams?(or any other st upto 6m)

    1. DIMITRIS
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Ollie Watkins

  16. DIMITRIS
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Please help: Foden , Trossard or Bowen ?

    1. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Foden.

      1. DIMITRIS
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers.

  17. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    To complete WC team

    Sais kilman and ?

    A) mitchel lamptey gomez/reguilon
    B) ward ctaylor gomez
    C) mitchel chilwel 4.6 def.
    D) strujik chilwle lamptey

    1. DIMITRIS
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      D

    2. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      D for me

    3. Toked
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      D

  18. ididnt
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    what does everyone think of PVA as an option?

    1. DIMITRIS
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Not until we see him play

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I would want him if he had started last match. Need to see him play before getting him in.

  19. JY84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    My current squad is:
    McCarthy
    Justin Saiss TAA
    Salah Son Rashford ASM
    Jimenez Wilson Adams

    Which option wld u take???
    (A) Rashford & Adams to Barkley+Kane (-4)
    (B) Adams/Wilson to DCL (Ie ignoring Kane n utilizing my change to include DCL instead)

    1. Tinkermania
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Hold.

  20. Will J 256
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Final decision! What do you guys think?
    Jimenez and R James to Kane and Ayling for a -4? If I don’t do it tonight, I will make the jimi to Kane move tonight as price changes will affect the move!

  21. raff97
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    But of a headachen right now. Need to bench one of
    A) Hamez (sot but recovering from a knock)
    B) Konsa (LEE)
    C) Podence (NEW)
    D) Digne (sot)

    1. boroie
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Of those, C

    2. FPLMACKEM
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I've benched Podence reluctantly. See below. If that's any help?

  22. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    How's this looking?

    McCarthy
    TAA Robbo Lewis
    Salah (c) son jrod Barkley
    Mitro Jimenez maupay

    Steer Podence Taylor Ferguson

    1. ididnt
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      start pod over mitro?

      1. FPLMACKEM
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I'm 50/50 tbh mate. Really not sure. Mitro is due a goal surely? But yeah palace defend deep. Wolves not scoring many.

        1. ididnt
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          giving Podence one last chance vs Fulham !

          1. FPLMACKEM
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            They played Fulham a few weeks ago mate. They looked lacklustre in attack then also.

  23. boroie
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    What should my bench order be?

    1 KWP
    2 Bissouma
    3 Brewster

    Currently on 213...

  24. Eddie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    On WC and have settled on this:

    Robbo, Saiss, Creswell, Lamptey, Kilman Salah, Son, Grealish, Soucek, Bissouma, Kane, Aguero, DC

    Any last minute adjustments needed?

    1. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Whoops, odd formatting

      Robbo, Saiss, Creswell, Lamptey, Kilman
      Salah, Son, Grealish, Soucek, Bissouma,
      Kane, Aguero, DC

      1. Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Much improved formatting!

        What formation are you playing?

        1. Eddie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          433 or 343 depending on West Ham's fixtures. I wan to play Soucek in easier games.

      2. TheSharpeEnd
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I like that a lot. Really strong balance everywhere. Similar to mine but with a bit more firepower in defence.

        Martinez
        Saiss/Lamptey/Konsa/Kilman/Struijk
        Salah/Son/Grealish/JRod/Bissouma
        Kane/Aguero/DCL

        1. Eddie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          See, I like this. Is J Rod worth dropping Robbo for? Probably is. Hmm.

          1. TheSharpeEnd
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Incredible team value to get your team. I'd be 0.7 short to get yours.

    2. Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Saka instead of Soucek

      1. Eddie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Hmm, I do love Saka, but he's not starting every game. Soucek for West Hams fixtures coming up.

        How much is Saka now?

        1. Jebiga
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          You have bench, and saka is one of the most important arsenal players 🙂

          1. Eddie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            I agree re most important players for us, just want Arteta to start him every match. My bench is Bissouma. Soucek is going to get goals.

  25. TheSharpeEnd
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Who's the final starter?

    GK: Martinez
    DF: Saiss, Lamptey and...

    A: Kilman
    B: Konsa
    C: Struijk

  26. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Last check, am I GTG?
    Martinez (Button)
    Robbo,Konsa,Lamptey,Chilwell (Kilman)
    Salah(C)Son,Pulisic,Grealish(Bissouma)
    Kane,DCL (Brewster)

    On a WC, so suggestions welcome!

    Good luck all

    1. Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Something in the bank?
      Saka over bisouma

  27. The Alli Way
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Would you take -4 to bring in Robbo? Starting Mitchell otherwise

    1. 1zverGGadeM
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I did it

    2. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      If you’ve already spent your wc then it could be worth it over the next however many Gameweeks

  28. SantaCruz87
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Triple captain Salah, worth a try?

    1. ididnt
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      yep

  29. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    A nice boring 0-0 tonight would be fine

  30. tbhogal
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Start chilwell or Lamptey guys ?